Walmart & the self checkout...

I have to give this thought, just read the article now. I guess there exists pros and cons. I don't use personal check
out myself at any places I shop, just not my comfort zone.
 
That's how it is at our local Giant/Martins store after 9pm....I only order online from Walmart.
 

I don't have large orders to check out and the 5-10 items I do get are just right for the self-checkout. They have one employee there to help if you have a problem. Now, a large amount I could see as a problem for some people. But, I have gotten large orders in the past and checked them out myself easily. The only downside I see to this is putting people out of a job. And, I really doubt if the prices will go down any because of it.

Government complains if people don't have jobs, but look the other way as jobs are taken from people in the name of technology. If people are not needed for work anymore, how do they earn money to buy life's necessities? Will we be driven to a universal basic income? https://www.thebalance.com/universal-basic-income-4160668
 
I use the self checkouts when I have just a couple of items. However, trying to juggle a full cart of stuff....one at a time, and having to offload the cart, then reloading the cart would be a major pain in the A$$, and would probably take several times as long as going through a regular check out. It would almost require two people and two carts to get through such a process in a reasonable amount of time. If Walmart, or any store, tried this nonsense, we would probably find other ways or places to shop.
 
When Esso decided to introduce Self Serve at all their stations many moons ago, I swore....Literally, of course.... I would NEVER fill up my car at Esso! That means I'd have to clean my OWN windows, check the oil??? Also, this will put people out of work....I'd find ANOTHER gasoline station to give my business to, like Shell or one of the many other stations. That lasted about three weeks....

"I thought you were going to boycott all the self serve gas stations?" Asked my Wife, Sue.

"Well, I was but all the danged stations are now self serve. We are stuck."

"We could, you know, buy a couple of bikes or get a horse and wagon or..."

"I got your point, " I replied, as Sue watched me try to figure out how to self fill the car.

"Want me to do it?" asked Sue.

I just stared at her....

Anyway, I did send a strongly worded letter to Esso. I'm still waiting for a reply....

As for Wal Mart, on our last shopping expedition there sure enough it's the beginning of the end for cashiers. Self serve has arrived.
As I told Sue, NO way we are shopping at Wal-Mart EVER again! Self serve indeed....We will, as I pointed out to Sue, go shop at Costco!

Wait a sec.....
 
moosehead said:
When Esso decided to introduce Self Serve at all their stations many moons ago, I swore....Literally, of course.... I would NEVER fill up my car at Esso! That means I'd have to clean my OWN windows, check the oil??? Also, this will put people out of work....I'd find ANOTHER gasoline station to give my business to, like Shell or one of the many other stations. That lasted about three weeks....

"I thought you were going to boycott all the self serve gas stations?" Asked my Wife, Sue.

"Well, I was but all the danged stations are now self serve. We are stuck."

"We could, you know, buy a couple of bikes or get a horse and wagon or..."

"I got your point, " I replied, as Sue watched me try to figure out how to self fill the car.

"Want me to do it?" asked Sue.

I just stared at her....

Anyway, I did send a strongly worded letter to Esso. I'm still waiting for a reply....

As for Wal Mart, on our last shopping expedition there sure enough it's the beginning of the end for cashiers. Self serve has arrived.
As I told Sue, NO way we are shopping at Wal-Mart EVER again! Self serve indeed....We will, as I pointed out to Sue, go shop at Costco!

Wait a sec.....
Click to expand...
That's what I'm afraid of. That all the stores will follow suit. That's why I stated that I may have to consider a change in the way I shop because I flat out refuse to go in and ring up my own crap.
 
At my local Walmart, it has become easier and faster to use the self-checkout than it is to wait for a real cashier.

The Wegman's chain has started testing an iPhone based app in some of its stores that allow you to ring up and bag your groceries while you shop so all you have to do is stop at the self-checkout to swipe your credit card, scan your coupons and get a receipt.

It won't be long before you just go in grab what you want and automatically charge your card as you exit the store.

"The Times They Are a-Changin'..." - Bob Dylan
 
Agreeing with MarciKS: ā€œ some things Iā€™m not willing to put up with any more. ā€œ
The WMs I go to have them but I donā€™t use them. The Smiths-Kroger has them & if I just have a few items & look pitiful the old guy that supervises them will run them thru for me.
and Iā€™m cursing under my own breath every time I have to pump my own gas. Quite a few years now. But feel blessed that Iā€™m still able to.
 
I never shop at Walmart anyway, but in the grocery store I prefer the self-checkout. But I do think people ought to be given the choice.

It's lousy of Walmart to put people out of work, especially now.
 
Aunt Bea said:
At my local Walmart, it has become easier and faster to use the self-checkout than it is to wait for a real cashier.

The Wegman's chain has started testing an iPhone based app in some of its stores that allow you to ring up and bag your groceries while you shop so all you have to do is stop at the self-checkout to swipe your credit card, scan your coupons and get a receipt.

It won't be long before you just go in grab what you want and automatically charge your card as you exit the store.

"The Times They Are a-Changin'..." - Bob Dylan
Click to expand...
Yes but, people wouldn't have to wait so long if they had left the cashiers there in the first place. It's their own fault. I don't want to have anymore technology forced on me because some corporate big wig thinks it's for the best. What about people with no iPhone? Someone mentioned they would have some special gun like thing you could point at the product and have it rung up but I'm not interested in doing their job for them. And for free. While they rake in even more money to pay for those stupid machines.
 
Too many jobs being lost to technology. Not so good after all. I get it that no one wants to stand in line for eons, but if you hire enough employees it would not be necessary. Too many glitches possible with all this self service nonsense.
 
Also, this may seem odd for some of you but, I don't get out much because I'm not a huge fan of people. But I like that human contact at the register. To me that is part of the whole customer service experience. It's as if these companies are desperately trying to pull everyone apart and away from each other and make this world the coldest place on earth. And with each step, communication is breaking down even farther and people are having more and more of a time trying to get along with each other.

How much of a price do we have to pay as humans at the hands of all these greedy people? And where does it end? Eventually the unemployed and homeless are going to be more prevalent than the rest of us if technology continues to suck the life out of our world.
 
I prefer the self-checkout (we have cashiers and self-checkout here). I don't want someone handling my purchases and with only a few things to get, I can get through faster.
 
That's odd. You're like the first person I've ever encountered that has ever said that. Interesting.

Thanks for all the responses.
 
Don M. said:
I use the self checkouts when I have just a couple of items. However, trying to juggle a full cart of stuff....one at a time, and having to offload the cart, then reloading the cart would be a major pain in the A$$, and would probably take several times as long as going through a regular check out. It would almost require two people and two carts to get through such a process in a reasonable amount of time. If Walmart, or any store, tried this nonsense, we would probably find other ways or places to shop.
Click to expand...
Our son recently added us to his Sam's club account. Shopping there was different in the sense there were no bags & no checkers. No problem though to check out the items & put them in a cart left for that purpose. Once emptied our cart was left for the next customer. Easy to use system. Next was checking out at a local Walmart via self check out. Found the switch to turn on the belt, that made check out fast & easy even with using the scan gun to scan the produce codes.

I don't like the thought of job loss for checkers but technology is here & not going away. Technicians capable of maintaining automated equipment will be one way of replacing that lost labor, that and manufacturing the equipment. I don't think it's wrong of businesses to look for ways to reduce costs. A machine that takes no breaks, works 24/7 without overtime or any pay, no benefits or bonuses looks like a pretty safe bet to reduce operational cost once fully implemented if theft can be controlled.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top